Someone I went to college with became known as the “The Unethical Guy.” He was smart and savvy, but always tried to cut corners on assignments, said the rules didn’t apply to him, and ignored convential wisdom. Bruce would say that he made decisions based on convenience and self-interest rather than principle. He answered the question, “Why should we be ethical?” by saying he was above society’s demands and was evolving faster as a human. Why did he have to play by rules set out for lesser beings?

I once argued with him that most people would see the consequences of honesty and morality – avoiding punishment, treating people well (the Golden Rule), and having a clear conscience – as worthy short and long-term benefits. I suggested that doing the right thing because it is the right thing makes us more human, and coincidentally, more like Jesus.

Psalm 15 is a clear image of a person whose conduct allows them to experience the presence of God. I love that the question in verse 1 – “God, who gets invited to your place for dinner?” is answered with examples that we can relate to:

Verse 2 says “He who walks straight, acts right, and tells the truth.” Verse 3-4 describes honest relationships with neighbors and friends, while verse 5 adds the value of integrity in business and financial matters. The Psalm ends with the words, “He who does these things will never be shaken.”

Ethical living is more than a concept discussed in university classes today. It is a powerful means of demonstrating the reality of the presence of Jesus in our lives.

Most parents do not want to see their kids’ picture on the wall of the Post Office’s Most Wanted List. Put away your tendency to live a life of deceit and live a life that’s true. For example, when is illegally downloading music or movies ever right?

By the way, my college friend Bruce was convicted of breaking the law a few years after college and is still doing hard time. The old-time axiom still rings true – you will reap what you sow.

I remember my grandmother saying, "common sense is not so common" when we heard about goofy stuff people did that got into the newspaper or on TV. You would think in an educated and highly technological society that there would no need for warnings on products. But it appears that because people lack common sense, it is inevitable and legally necessary to put instructions on all sorts of items. For example:

Do not use this iron to iron clothes on your body.Do not use this hair dryer while you are sleeping, or in the shower.Do not use your hand to stop this chainsaw.

Common sense is learned from trial and error, poor choices, personal experience, and the teaching you receive from those you trust. The hope is that pain and even suffering can be alleviated by paying attention to the wisdom of others who have gone before you. As the oldest of four, I tried to help my siblings learn from my mistakes as well as my successes. Generally, they were open to my feedback.

There is one significant source of common sense that is often overlooked. The best selling book of all time is the Bible - and it is a tested and proven place to gain and develop discernment and proper judgment.

Whether or not you are familiar with the Bible, I would suggest a 31 day experiment of reading through the Book of Proverbs. Use a notebook, moleskin, or your phone, tablet, or laptop to journal the sort of advice you read about in each of the 31 chapters.

As you read through Proverbs, take note of the repeatings words: wisdom, knowledge, and understanding (see Proverbs 2:6). Because He is wise and kind, God had packed this Older Testament book with a lot of common sense.

Imagine you work part time at a restaurant near campus and someone attempted to pay for their meal and drinks with a credit card. You follow store policy and ask to see their driver’s license for verification and are shocked to see your photo on the ID.

You lost your wallet awhile back and this student was using your license so she would have proof she was old enough to drink alcohol. The police were called and the customer was arrested for identity theft. She tried to get what she wanted by pretending to be someone she wasn’t.

A man named Jacob in the first book of the Older Testament did some pretending of his own. In the book of Genesis (chapter 27:19-33), with his mother Rebekah’s help, Jacob fooled his dying father into believing he was his brother Esau so he could get the blessing meant for his older brother. Jacob was eventually exposed for his deceitful act, but it was too late for Esau to reclaim his birthright and blessing.

Pretending goes on in our families, friendships, churches, and all over campus. Many people put on a false face or front in order to be liked, loved, get a grade, make a friend, or get ahead. They may even use the right “Christian” words, attend church regularly, pray before meals, and wear the right clothes. They pretend to have it all together in order to win the approval of others, including dorm leaders and professors. Yet inside they struggle with self-doubt, brokenness, guilt, addiction, or persistent sin.

God placed all of us in a family in order to learn how to be comfortable in your own skin. He also provides the Body of Christ while away from home as a place for prayer, affirmation, accountability and mutual support. Admit you are not perfect. Be the best “you” you can be. Be secure in who you are in Christ. Seek the counsel of a godly brother or sister in Christ. Practice James 5:16.

We live in a noisy world. There are noises designed to sell, scream, plead, deceive, seduce, and annoy. The 24 hour news-sports-entertainment cycle leads to a cacophony of sound that is difficult to avoid. The creation and spread of digital music devices has resulted in concerns about hearing loss. The design of the music players and their earphones have been the target of lawsuits. Studies have shown that long term exposure to music at high volume leads to serious hearing impairment. Ironically, too much hearing can result in an inability to hear.

So in the midst of so much noise, what is the secret to hearing the voice(s) that matters most? I'm thinking of your parents and God.

It has been said that our identity is formed early in life by the influence of our parents. If your parents love you unconditionally, why would anyone else's opinion of you matter?

In 1 Kings 19:1-12, we read the account of the prophet Elijah, who listened to the threats of Queen Jezebel (and the voice of his own fear). His response was to run and hide in a cave for fear of his life. In the cave he was confronted with the noise of wind, an earthquake, and fire (v 11-12). Then the cave grew silent and the voice of the Lord - the only voice that really mattered - broke through as a "still, small voice" (v 12).

If we are to hear God speaking to us through His Word (the Bible), we will need to pull away consistently from the noise of the crowd and our daily circumstances. Only when we learn to be quiet can we really understand what it means to commune with the God who cares for us.

Make a habit of a regular "quiet time" where you make an effort to read Scripture, pause and reflect on it, and listen for the voice of the One True God.

I enjoy reading the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. One favorite lesson is found in The Horse and The Boy. Bree is a talking horse and he thinks Shasta (a boy) is in need of some training.

But the horse’s thoughts and opinions convey an attitude of arrogance and superiority. He thinks of himself as a brave warhorse of great skill, courage, and power. Yet when he hears the roar of a great Lion, he runs and flees for his safety while leaving the other members of his party unprotected.

Later, Bree meets Aslan the Lion, who is the King of Narnia. The horse admits that he has been an arrogant and frightened failure. Aslan praises Bree for being willing to admit his shortcomings and own up to them.

FYI, I love what Mr. Beaver said about Aslan: “He is good but he is not safe.”

The Bible instructs us that, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Life, the people around us, and the circumstances we face have a way of exposing the flaws in our own personal vanity. Parents try to deal with this self-centered tendency in their children, knowing the danger it represents if not dealt with when they are young.

Learning the hard lesson that “pride goes before destruction” can become a turning point in which we intentionally turn away our focus from ourselves. As we learn not to self-exalt ourselves, but adopt a humble attitude before God and others, we can grow in the right kind of character God designed us to practice.

The writer of Proverbs added in 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble there is wisdom.”

Promoting our own importance leads to stumbling and taking glory away from God. Focusing our energy and efforts on glorifying God and meeting the needs of others is the path to wisdom, understanding, and servant leadership. See the examples of Timothy and Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:19-30.

Ask God to make you humble and take away your tendency to sinful pride. It is easier to avoid trouble if you stick close to God’s side. He tends to rub off on you.

Francis Collins earned his Ph.D in chemistry at Yale and then went to medical school. During his training rounds visiting patients, he encountered an elderly woman at the end of her life. She often would talk to the medical interns about her faith in Christ, and one day asked Collins what he believed about God.

He was caught off guard by the question and turned red with embarrassment. “I really don’t know,” he replied, and left the room a bit unnerved. Collins had rejected the existence of God without ever examining any evidence, but the peace and serenity the woman modeled was captivating. A few days later she died.

Curious and shaken by the event of her death, the young doctor faced the reality that he had rejected even the possibility of God without any scrutiny. He recognized he had ignored the spiritual reality of the universe by not adequately considering the information available. He began to diligently read the Bible and the writings of C.S. Lewis.

A year later he fell to his knees, admitting that Jesus was who he claimed to be. Collins chose to become a follower of Jesus. What was the catalyst for such a decision? It was a sincere question from a dying woman whose physical heart was failing, but whose concern for others was strong.

I love the prophetic picture of the Messiah described by Isaiah: “The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary” (Isaiah 50:4) Acts 4:12 says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to college students (my adaptation) by which they must be saved.”

May you be ready with a timely word or a caring question this week to point others to our Savior who offers life and peace to all.

A little over a year before I was born, the Soviet Union launched the world’s first satellite on October 4, 1957, and the modern Space Age begun. History was forever changed. Many nations rushed to catch up, technological development accelerated, all while scientists, philosophers, theologians, and ethicists wrestled with the implications of its meaning for humanity. Fear and hope about the future also punctuated the conversations.

Sometimes events that alter the past and affect the future occur in obscurity. This was true of the birth of Jesus – one baby, born to a young and fairly ordinary husband and wife in a small town. But that one birth affected the course of history. The words of an angel spoken to shepherds began to spread: “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Nineteen centuries later, Phillips Brooks of Harvard wrote of a little town in Bethlehem in a song many of us have sung, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”

When we open ourselves to Jesus the Lord and acknowledge him as Savior, the course of our present and future history is altered and changed for time and eternity. We learn that Luke the author was right! These “good tidings of great joy (verse 10) are for everyone, everywhere.” So what are we do with this reality?

Consider the eternal welfare of your classmates, roommates, and professors. Have they considered the claims and person of Jesus? Are you praying for their spiritual interest in Him? Would you be willing to ask them about their spiritual journey and listen to what they think of Jesus? Would you offer to read the Gospel of Mark with them and discuss whom you encounter in that narrative? How about buying them a copy of Who Is This Man? by John Ortberg as a gift? This book is an inspiring account of how Jesus has affected time, culture, art, science, government, medicine, and relationships, while teaching us about dignity, compassion, forgiveness, and hope.

If Jesus has changed your history, what are you doing to make a difference on your campus for His sake?

I was watching a documentary on the building of the Panama Canal and was amazed by the challenges the builders faced: they had to figure out how to move tons of dirt and rock, redirect a river, and cut down miles of jungle. But the mosquito population threatened to shut down the entire project.

The heat, humidity, and environment of the Isthmus of Panama were a breeding ground for mosquitoes and they were a formidable foe. As they bit and infected canal workers with yellow fever and malaria, the death toll began to rise very fast.

Fortunately, a doctor who had studied these diseases was available and coordinated an army of workers to spray the area with a chemical to kill mosquitoes. The number of illnesses dropped dramatically, workers were able to conduct their business, and the project was ultimately completed.

In the Older Testament of the Bible (2 Chronicles 34:14-21), we read of Judah’s decision that led to an epidemic of idolatry and its resulting moral sickness. When the Word of God was rediscovered, King Josiah declared, “Great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the Word of the Lord” (34:21). Josiah understood the Scriptures preventative cure for moral sickness. He began to apply its spiritual truths and a revival soon swept the land and restored the people’s (and nation’s) moral and spiritual health.

When we neglect the reading of God’s Word (and obedience to it), we invite spiritual illness. Don’t fall into the trap of saying or believing you are too busy at school to read, study, memorize, meditate, and apply the Bible. Everyone has 24 hours in a day and 168 hours in a week. Everyone has time for what they “want to do.”

Jesus says He will transform our lives if we are willing to study and obey what we read in the Bible. The author of 2 Timothy 3:16 offers a promise that Scripture can teach, rebuke, correct, and train us to turn from sinful tendencies toward the light of God’s ways. Be sure to set aside time to absorb the life-giving message of God’s Word.

I took a walk through a park recently and saw something I fondly remembered. Lots of young parents sitting on benches talking while their kids played on a nearby playground. Infants, toddlers, and children crawling in the dirt, chasing one another around, playing hide and seek, and a myriad of other games. A few kids sat on the swing set, waiting for someone to give them a push.

I remembered the fun I had giving my kids that first push on the seat they sat on. You know what happens when you push a kid on a swing, right? They yell, “Push me harder, daddy!” Pretty soon they are straining their arms and legs, pumping, and doing it themselves. That’s what my role was at the time – to help them get started…to give them that first push.

Encouraging others along their path in life is of great worth. Read Acts 11:19-26.

Joseph, a godly man mentioned in the book of Acts, modeled the gift of encouragement. In the early days of the church (Acts 4:36-37), he sold some land and gave the money to the church to help care for the less fortunate. He also traveled with the apostle Paul on some of his journeys and helped to preach the gospel (i.e., good news) of Jesus (Acts 11:22-26, 13:1-4).

Joseph was also known as “Barnabus,” which is the name given by the apostles to the “son of encouragement.” When the Jerusalem church heard that people in Antioch were starting to express faith in Jesus, they sent Barnabus because “he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (11:24). Scripture says when he saw evidence of the grace of God, he “was glad and encouraged them to remain true to the Lord with all their heart” (v 23). It was necessary because temptation, sin, and culture could persuade a new believer to turn away from salvation in Christ.

Barnabus shows how critical it is help and encourage new converts to continue in love, faith, and committed relationships with Christ and his people (13:43 and 14:22).

What a great example for us to emulate! Who can you give a “push of encouragement” to this week in their walk with Christ?

I like Peter Parker (aka Spiderman), because I resonate with his story about overcoming failure. I love movies about defeating great odds, like Rocky, Rudy, or Hoosiers. I enjoy stories about real people facing difficult circumstances like William Wallace in Braveheart. Some would say Apple’s recovery from bankruptcy to become the most valuable company in the world today is the greatest comeback story of all time.

Many of us admire anyone who makes a comeback after failure. I remember Sports Illustrated in 2001 had an article on the greatest comebacks of all time. They chose the resurrection of Jesus as number one on their list. The author said: “Jesus Christ, 33 A.D. Defies critics and stuns the Romans with his resurrection.”

In any list of history’s greatest comebacks, Jesus’ victory over death would seem to merit top status. His resurrection from the dead is in a class all its own and soars high above any mere sporting or business revival.

Death ultimately triumphs over life. When a person dies, there is no chance of renewed existence – at least in the life we know of on earth. But that was not the case with Jesus. He promised his disciples in John 14:1-6 that after being crucified by his enemies, he would come back to life – triumphing over the grave.

Matthew recorded: “Jesus began to show to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things, be killed, and be raised on the third day” (16:21). And that is exactly what happened to him. Since that fateful day, Jesus was forever known as the comeback kid, or King.

Jesus’ comeback assures us that we also can come back when we face failure, difficulty, even death. John wrote down Jesus’ words in John 11:25-26:“You don’t have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?”